boonecountyraceway Archives

Thornton Thrills in $10,111 Tanner Pelster Memorial at Boone County RacewayBy Ben Deatherage

ALBION, Neb. (Jul. 13, 2025) – Chandler, Arizona transplant Ricky Thornton Jr. stormed to a thrilling last-lap victory during the 5th annual Tanner Pelster Memorial at Boone County Raceway, scoring his first Sunoco IMCA Stock Car win of the season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region and becoming the fifth different winner of the prestigious $10,111-to-win event. The 30-lap main event saw Minnesota’s Jim Horejsi and Iowa racer Maguire De Jong duel for the top spot at the start, with De Jong securing the early advantage. A caution on lap two bunched up the field, but De Jong took off again on the restart while Kyle Vanover and Horejsi scrapped for second, allowing De Jong to check out with a big lead. Vanover, a four-time Beatrice Speedway Stock Car champion, eventually settled into second but soon faced pressure from two-time Modified and two-time Late Model Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner Ricky Thornton Jr., who had made the eight-hour overnight trek from Missouri. After a lap 12 caution, a fierce battle erupted for second, and [Read More]

$10,111 to Win for Stock Cars, $3,111 for Hobby Stocks at Boone County’s Tanner Pelster Memorial

By Ben Deatherage ALBION, Neb. (Jun. 25, 2025) — Boone County Raceway will host one of the richest events of the summer on Sunday, July 13, with the running of the 5th Annual Tanner Pelster Memorial. The marquee program features Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars battling for a $10,111 winner’s check and $311 to start. Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks will race for a $3,111 payday, with $211 awarded to each feature starter. The Stock Car winner will earn a guaranteed starting spot in the upcoming B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. National, regional, and Nebraska State points will be awarded in both divisions. Several special bonuses and contingencies sweeten the pot, including $500 to the last driver to complete both features and $150 to the 11th-place finisher in the Stock Car and Hobby Stock B-mains. The 11th-place driver on the 11th lap of the Stock Car main will receive a set of four new tires. A $400 bonus will be given for the longest tow in the Hobby Stock class. Additional prizes for both divisions include a $250 [Read More]

Bonus Bucks Up for Grabs During 2025 Sunoco IMCA Late Model Bonus Money Nights

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (May 29, 2025) — Drivers competing in the IMCA Sunoco Late Model division will have more than just points to race for this season, with a series of special events offering bonus money at select tracks across Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Illinois. The 2025 Sunoco Late Model Bonus Money Nights schedule features 13 designated events at premier Midwest ovals, rewarding competitors with added cash and heightened prestige throughout the summer. The program began on May 24 at Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa, where Kale Kosiski took home the first bonus of the year. The tour continues Friday, June 6 at Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, South Dakota, followed by a Sunday stop at Dubuque Speedway in Iowa on June 8. Mid-June sees back-to-back Iowa dates at Davenport Speedway on June 13 and Maquoketa Speedway on June 14, while July includes high-profile stops at 34 Raceway in Burlington on the 19th and three consecutive Nebraska events: US 30 Speedway in Columbus on July 24, Boone County Raceway in Albion on [Read More]

Grabouski checks Tanner Pelster Memorial off must-win list

ALBION, Neb. (July 8, 2024) – The one that got away last year didn’t get away Monday night. Jordan Grabouski led the last 11 laps of Boone County Raceway’s fourth annual Tanner Pelster Memorial, earning an IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career-best $6,111 payday for his efforts. “This race has been on my mind for about a year,” said Grabouski, runner-up last July after losing the lead and the big payday to Mike Nichols on the final circuit. “This race was one that I’ve had on my list that I’ve really wanted to win and I finally got it done.” Forty-plus Stock Cars from across the Midwest were entered at Albion after inclement weather forced postponement of the event from Sunday to Monday. Jacob Anson and Grabouski drew front row starts with Anson setting the fast pace before giving way to Dallon Murty on lap four. Grabouski lurked in third, with Tyler Iverson fourth on the lower line, before catching Anson on lap eight. Murty held onto the front spot through the first of what would [Read More]

Nichols scores IMCA Stock Car career best payday at Pelster Memorial

ALBION, Neb. (July 9, 2023) – A couple laps in and Mike Nichols knew he had a pretty good car. At the end of 30 laps, that pretty good car took Nichols to the highest paying victory in his remarkable IMCA Sunoco Stock Car career, Sunday’s Tanner Pelster Memorial at Boone County Raceway. Nichols raced from 12th starting, passing Tyler Iverson for second and then Jordan Grabouski for the lead in the waning laps of the $6,111 to win main event. The checkers, Nichols’ IMCA best 617th, were accompanied by an automatic starting spot in the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. “We’ve been out to Albion a dozen times over the years and they always have a good track. They did a great job, with how many cars and races there were. The track was phenomenal. You could run anywhere,” said Nichols, from Harlan, Iowa. “We changed our setup after the heat race for more drive in the feature and everything worked like we wanted it to. We knew in the first couple laps [Read More]

Boone County’s Tanner Pelster Memorial boasts $5,111 IMCA Stock Car payday

ALBION, Neb. (June 14, 2023) – The Class Too Tough to Tame returns to Boone County Raceway July 9 for the Tanner Pelster Memorial, and the driver who can tame the Sunday night IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main event will take home $5,111. A guaranteed starting spot in the upcoming B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational is at stake as well at the third annual special, sponsored by Sudbeck Underground Inc., Nebraska Owners Insurance and 94 Rock. The runner-up earns $3,111 with $2,111 paid for third, $1,111 for fourth and $911 for fifth. A minimum of $311 will be paid to start the 24 car main event. Tow money is $211 and Albion Locker antes up $300 for the Stock Car driver making the longest tow to Albion. IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks are also on the card and run for $1,511 to win, $1,111 for second and $1,011 for third. Minimum start money and tow for the Hobbies is $111. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing national, EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region and Big Daddy [Read More]

Boone County, Junction hosts next Sunoco bonus nights for IMCA Late Models

ALBION, Neb. (June 8, 2023) – A pair of Sunoco Race Fuels bonuses are at stake this weekend in Nebraska. Division title sponsor Sunoco awards $250 bonuses to IMCA Late Model feature winners on Friday, June 9 at Boone County Raceway in Albion and Saturday, June 10 at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction. Pit gates open at 5 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 6 p.m. for Boone County’s Firemen Appreciation Night show. Hot laps are at 7:30 p.m. and racing is at 8 p.m. And at Junction, gates open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Driver check-in closes at 6 p.m. and racing is at 7 p.m. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern NorthMods are on both race night cards. Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites also run on Friday, Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts on Saturday. Pit passes are $30 each night. Drivers can get the bonus one time in a season; the $250 will be awarded to the top finishing non-winning [Read More]

Jaennette cashes in big with Tanner Pelster Memorial checkers

By Anthony Ainslie ALBION, Neb. (July 10, 2022) – Michael Jaennette hit all his marks following a late restart and cashed in big in the headline event at Sunday night’s Tanner Pelster Memorial. Jaennette led the distance of the 30-lap IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature at Boone County Raceway, earning $5,211 and an automatic starting berth in the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. Fifty-seven Stock Cars representing five states vied at the second annual event. “This was career biggest payday, by far, in a Stock Car,” said Jaennette, running more than adrenaline than sleep after finishing second Saturday night at Boone Speedway and getting up early to get the car ready and on the road to Albion. “Our goal for this season was to make Paul Burger’s All-Star race and now we’ve done that.” “We started sixth and finished second in our heat,” added Jaennette, fourth in the inaugural memorial last year. “We were scrambling right before we went back out for the feature, scratching our heads looking for more speed. We changed [Read More]

Pelster Memorial payday is $5,111 for IMCA Stock Cars

ALBION, Neb. (July 5, 2022) – Another big payday is in the works for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars at Boone County Raceway’s second annual Tanner Pelster Memorial. The Sunday, July 10 main event for The Class Too Tough To Tame at Albion totes a $5,111 top check along with automatic qualifying for the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. The runner-up earns $3,111 with $2,111 paid for third, $1,111 for fourth and $911 for fifth. A minimum of $211 will be paid to start the 24 car main event. Tow money is $111. Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods race for $1,211 to win, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $1,111 to win. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing national, regional and KMJ Performance State points will be awarded at the draw/redraw special. There is no entry fee and pit passes are $35. Spectator admission is $25 for adults, $10 fort kids ages 6-12 and free for ages five and under. The pit area is open all day. The grandstand opens at 3 p.m. with hot laps at 5 [Read More]

$250 Sunoco bonus for Late Model winners in Nebraska this weekend

VINTON, Iowa – Extra money is on the line for the winner of weekend main events for IMCA Sunoco Late Models at a trio of Nebraska speedplants this weekend. The next three installments of the $250 Sunoco Race Fuels bonus will be paid to the July 15-17 Late Model winners at US 30 Speedway in Columbus, Boone County Raceway in Albion, and Off Road Speedway in Norfolk. Sunoco bonuses will be presented at IMCA Late Model sanctioned tracks in 2021. Drivers are eligible for one bonus during the racing season. Winners so far this year have been Matt Ryan at 300 Raceway in Farley, followed by Sean Johnson at Independence Motor Speedway, Andy Eckrich at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, and most recently Ron Klein at Dubuque Speedway. IMCA will announce mid-week before the dates bonuses are to be awarded at each track. Hot laps are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Columbus and Albion, and a half hour earlier at 7 pm in Norfolk.